Cracker-can



J. M. HOTHERSALL.

CRACKER CAN..

APPLICATION HLED JULY 31,1915.

Patented Nov. 2,

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. I -IOTHERS ALL, QT? BROOKLYN, NIEVV YORK, AS'SI.GITOBI TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N- Y-, A CORPORATION 013 NEXIV JERSEY.

ORACKER-OAN.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 42,895.

To all whomi may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. l-lorHnnsALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Cracker-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to cracker cans and has more particular reference to cracker cans provided with a window of glass or other transparent material.

A. principal object of this invention is the provision of easily operable means for securing a pane of glass in position and permit-' ting its removal as occasion may require.

A further object of the inventionis the provision of a glass front cracker can in which the window or glass insert will be firmly held in place, thereby minimizing danger of breakage and this without the use of packing or parts: other than the readily operable glass securing means above mentioned.

A still further object of the invention is the. enlargement without serious change of appearance of the window receiving opening in the front of a cracker can in order to facilitate cleaning the can between its periods of use.

In accordance with the usual custom cracker cans are bought by bakers or packers and are merely loaned or rented by them to the retail dealer who is under obligation to return them for refilling after each charge has been sold. It is therefore an object of this invention to facilitate the cleaning of the can when it is returned for refilling and also to provide means for a ready change of label or name-plate to permit the can being sent to a different baker.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cracker can embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken from front to back and substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view and taken substantially on the line 3-3 of F ig. 1.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown on the drawing a cracker can of usual general construction and havmg a highly polished front 4 preferably of brass The front :1 is provided with an opening 5 materially larger than those usuallyprovided, in the present instance extending over almost all of the front of the can, leaving only such marginal edge as is necessary to the best appearance. This opening covers not only the space usually occupied by the window but also that generally heretofore provided for the label. Behind this space is seated a window 6 and a label or label carrying member 7 which together cover or close the opening 5.

The window member and the label mem ber are both readily removable and are secured in place as will now be described. A pocket 8 is formed beneath the lower edge of the aperture 5, in the present instance being shown at the bottom of the can. This pocket is formed by an upwardly extending flange 9 of a sheet metal strip 10 seamed into the bottom seam 11 of the front wall. A similar pocket is formed on the opposite side of the openin in the present instance being provided by bending in the upper edge 12 of the front wall and returning it upon itself at 13 to form the pocket 14. The label member consists, in the present instance, of a metal sheet 15 upon which may be printed desired matter or upon which a label may be pasted or otherwise secured. The metal sheet 15 has a bead 16 near its top edge adapted to seat under the end of the return portion 18 of the front wall and at its lower edge is folded to provide a pocket 17 for receiving the upper edge of the pane of glass 18 forming the window member. lVhen the label member and pane of glass18 are to be positioned they are first arranged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, that is with the upper edge 19 of the pane of glass about to engage in the pocket 17 at the lower end of the label member and with the outer edges of the label member and pane of glass seated respectively in the pockets 14C and 10 already described. From this position they may be moved toward the front through an individual pivotal and a conjoint toggle movement to bring them into place, the toggle movement permitting not only the joint seat ing of these two parts but also the formation of a tight interlocking engagement between them.

pane of glass replaced readily by releasing the arms, pressing inwardly on the label and glass to move them to the position shown in dotted lines, replacing the desired part and returning them to closed position. They may be removed for cleaning if desired and this without requiring the removal of any fastening means. 7

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim e 1. A cracker can comprising a body having a display opening in its front and pockets spaced apart from each other behind said front, a sheet member having an edge engaged in one of said pockets so that its opposite edge is swingable toward and from the front of the can, and a cooperating swingable member which is movably en- 7 gaged with the swingable edge of said sheet member and has its part which is opposite to the meeting point of said members seated in the other of said pockets, one of said members being provided at said meeting point with a pocket which swingably engages the other of said members.

2. A cracker can comprising a body having a display opening in its front and pockets behind the top and bottom edges of said front, and a' pair of sheet members engaged with each other along a line between the said pockets and having their remote edges seated in said pockets, one of which mema part of the other member, the said sheet members being swingable toward the front of the can while having said engagements A and having a toggle action with respect to each other, and means for preventing the inward swinging of said members and for maintaining them substantially parallel with the front of the can.

3. A cracker can comprising a body having a display opening in its front and pockets behind the top and bottom edges of said front, and a air of sheet members engaged with each ot er along a line between the said pockets-and having their remote edges seated in said pockets, one of which members is provided with a pocket at said line of engagement in which is movablyinserted a part of the other member, thesaid sheet members being swingable toward the front of the can while having said engagements and having a toggle action with respect to each other, and'means arranged near the line of the engagement of said members with each other for preventing the inward swinging of said members and for maintaining them substantially parallel withthe front of the can. 7

4. A cracker can comprising a body having a display opening in its front and provided with pockets rearwardly of the top and bottom edges of said opening, a label carrying member and a pane of glass each having an edge adapted to seat in one of said pockets and pivotally engaged with each other at their other edges, and free to swing together while engaged, said label carrying member having a pocket in which is movably inserted the edge of the pane of glass, whereby said member and pane may together close the opening through a toggle movement into place.

Signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

VVitn'esses:

W. D. FosTER, AnoLPH E. J. HonnL, 

